Network Rail has pledged to clear fly-tipped rubbish and put down more rat bait in the hope of ending a vermin infestation that has blighted residents’ lives for the past three months.

The giant rodents were first spotted on fly-tipped rubbish behind a house in Winn Street, Lincoln and people have since seen rats shimmy up and down drainpipes, scuttle across roofs and walk into their homes through open doors.

Dead rats have even been found laying in the road, one young girl thought she had seen a giant mouse run across the street, and other children found a rat in their back garden as they fed their pet rabbit.

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The rats appear to be living in burrows in the railway embankment behind people's homes.

The problem was first reported to the City of Lincoln Council in early May and an inspector referred the matter to Network Rail as the problem appears to be coming from its land.

Residents are finding dead rats outside their homes

Network Rail cleared some but not all of the rubbish in June and arranged for rat bait to be put down on July 10.

But residents have continuously complained that the mound of rubbish and overgrown patch of weeds the rodents live in has not been cleared fully.

Residents of Winn Street are complaining about rats

Lincolnshire Live called Network Rail about their story on Tuesday July 25 and workers were dispatched the following day to clear vegetation in order to remove the remaining rubbish.

The company said its contractor had previously cleared a large section of fly-tipping and put bait down but conceded it had not actually cleared all of the rubbish because some of it was covered by vegetation.

Workers were due to do the job in the week commencing July 17 but they were called to the oil spill near Blackpool which took priority.

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A Network Rail spokesman said: “Network Rail spends millions of pounds of taxpayer money every year clearing fly-tipping which is dumped on the railway.

“We have partially cleared the fly-tipping in the area behind Winn Street and aim to clear the remaining rubbish in the coming days as well as putting down bait.”

Home to the rats

David Ivermee, 55, and Anne Glacken-Ivermee, who run Budget Printing Services from their home in Winn Street, first reported about 20 rats living in the rubbish.

Mrs Glacken-Ivermee thanked Lincolnshire Live taking up the case after we were contacted on Tuesday, July 25.

She said: “It's amazing how after one phone call from the Lincolnshire Echo, Network Rail can miraculously appear to attend the site.

“We are relieved that something is happening but frustrated that it appears it was the phone call that spurred them on to address the situation and not the appeals for help over the last three months.

“The vegetation has now been cut down and we are promised that Braemar will attend on Thursday, July 27 to remove the fly-tipping and to maintain a baiting programme.

“In an email to us dated May 19, William Fuller from Network Rail wrote: ‘I agree that if rats are highly active during the daytime it is a sign of a serious vermin infestation...’ and that ‘I have asked our contractor to attend to remove the fly-tipping as a matter of urgency as this will be the primary cause of the concentration of rat numbers.’.

“This did not happen even though in an email to Network Rail dated June 6 the council stated: ‘This is beginning to get out of hand. Under the Prevention of Damage by Pest Act 1949 we can serve the owner of the land a notice requiring them to keep their land free from rats/mice.’.”